A closer look at loading dock safety trends and what solutions are available for operators.

Sysco has announced the addition of three new toolkits to its Foodie Solutions platform: Brunch, Protecting Your Business and Turning Your Tables. As more restaurants reopen their dining rooms, these are the latest in a series of carefully curated tools to help customers respond quickly to shifting business requirements and trends resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sysco announced it has reduced its outstanding debt by a total of $1.1 billion. The company repaid the remaining $700 million in outstanding borrowings under its long-term revolving credit facility that expires on June 28, 2024. In addition, Sysco’s United Kingdom-based subsidiary, Brake Bros Limited, repaid £300 million of its £600 million in aggregate principal amount of notes outstanding under its commercial paper program, equating to approximately $417 million in debt reduction.

The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) joined groups nationwide in recognizing the tremendous efforts of grocery workers during the pandemic and beyond. Governor Tom Wolf proclaimed Monday, February 22, as Supermarket Employee Day in Pennsylvania as a way to acknowledge and thank supermarket employees for their extraordinary dedication to a job that has become more significant than ever.

Julie Lam, a key architect of the Port of Oakland’s COVID-19 response has been officially named the agency’s Chief Financial Officer. Lam had been the acting CFO for the past 10 months. Lam will be responsible for financial management, budgeting and accounting in her new role. She’ll also oversee human resources, risk management, purchasing and enterprise resource planning.

Silk, America’s No. 1 plant-based beverage brand, is celebrating the release of its new high-protein beverage Silk ULTRA by giving fitness enthusiasts the chance to win the gym gear they need to keep crushing the game – from the convenience of their home. Introducing the Silk ULTRA Upgrade, which will arm athletes with hard-to-get equipment such as kettlebells, free weights, resistance bands, and an ample supply of Silk ULTRA to take them through the year. But for a chance to upgrade, they must unleash their inner beast mode by completing one of two 10-minute, high-intensity ULTRA Sweat Sessions, hosted by decorated athletes Michael Phelps and Aly Raisman.

Nearly one year after the COVID-19 pandemic began, a new report finds frozen foods were among the fastest growing categories in the grocery store, with clear signs that Americans’ fondness for frozen will continue to grow.

Butterball Foodservice has launched a new website that will quickly connect operators with much needed resources, tools and information. The site revamp emerges as the need for strategies to counter the significant losses of the past year becomes urgent. Enhanced capabilities and an updated design improve the user experience on ButterballFoodservice.com and provide efficient access to comprehensive product detail, trending recipe applications and industry and consumer insights as operators navigate a recovery-focused period.

Sandridge Food Corporation has been recognized by The Healthy Business Council of Ohio (HBCO) as a Platinum Award recipient for demonstrating an outstanding commitment to employee wellness through comprehensive worksite health promotion and wellness programs. Sandridge Food Corporation is one of only three other Northeast Ohio companies to achieve a Platinum-level recognition.

Foster Farms is providing the Moderna vaccine to 1,000 employees at its Fresno, California, Cherry Avenue poultry facility. In partnership with Fresno County’s Public Health Department and Vons Pharmacy, this vaccination program marks the first large scale effort to vaccinate a workforce at a major food processing facility in Fresno County.